Offense a no-show against 49ers

Mike Wagaman

08/15/2003

The starting offense still hasn't scored a single point, their
place-kicker has made just one of five field goal attempts, and their pass protection
has been about as solid as California governor Gray Davis' political standing.
Preseason kinks or reasons for the Oakland Raiders to be concerned? A little
bit of both, as Thursday's 14-10 to the San Francisco 49ers proved.<BR><BR>

Not to be worried, however, or so say the Raiders. After all, what
happens in August essentially has no bearing on what happens come December when the
NFL playoff race heats up.

''We run into this problem every year in the preseason,'' said right
tackle Lincoln Kennedy. ''When you don't get into a rhythm, people begin to wonder
if you're going to get into a rhythm in the regular season. There are a
number of factors in the preseason but you never push the panic button.''

Maybe not the panic button but the one labeled mildly concerned might be
a good option.

This is a team, remember, that led the entire NFL in total offense and
was second in points scored. Yet in the two sleep-inducing preseason games the
Raiders have managed all of 17 points, all of which have come with the back-ups
in the game.

In three series with Rich Gannon at quarterback, Oakland's offense
managed all of 61 yards and four first downs. The Raiders crossed midfield just
once, that drive ending miserably when Sebastian Janikowski's 48-yard field goal
attempt missed badly to the left.

Janikowski, the leading scorer in the AFC a year ago, later shanked a
38-yard kick left as well. He did come back to connect from 45 yards out to give
Oakland a brief 10-7 lead, but coupled with his two misses against the Rams,
Janikowski is now just 1-for-5 in the preseason.
''He's been rushing a little,'' said Callahan. ''We need to slow him down
and get him back into game rhythm.''

The pass protection for Gannon on the Raiders' opening two series was
shaky at best. Left tackle Barry Sims was beaten by San Francisco defensive end
Andre Carter, who drilled Gannon both times, while 49ers' linebacker Jamie
Winborn blew past Tyrone Wheatley to drop Gannon for one of two sacks Oakland
surrendered in the first half.

The second sack came with back-up quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo running
the offense and led directly to the only points scored in the first half.

Linebacker Julian Peterson, who had been blowing past Sims all night, looped
around on a stunt and zipped past Sims who had picked up the inside rush of
defensive end Sean Moran. Peterson raced in unimpeded and blasted Tuiasosopo, jarring
the ball loose in the process.

San Francisco recovered on the Raiders' 10-yard line and one play later
Brandon Doman connected with wide receiver Cedrick Wilson for a short touchdown
completion.

''What happens in the preseason games (is) you don't have time to find
your rhythm, and if you don't then it's, 'Oh no, we're out of rhythm,' '' said
Callahan. ''It's hard to get going into a rhythm until you play (the starters)
a full game.''

To blame all of the offense's struggles on the line, however, would be
unfair and off the mark. Gannon had throws that were off mark or dropped, there
were missed blocks and a plethora of penalties -- 15 in all for 114 yards.

One of the few things that did go right for Oakland was the running of
Justin Fargas. Fargas, whose 72-yard effort against the Rams a week earlier was
marred by a fumble near the end zone, spent the first 35 of Thursday's game
against San Francisco on the sidelines. When he did get into the game with
Oakland's second-string unit, the rookie running back showed why the Raiders are so
high on him.

In the final 10 minutes of the third quarter alone, Fargas carried the
ball 12 times for 80 yards and one touchdown. He finished the game with 126
yards, a 7.0 yards-per-carry average and the possibility of playing with the
starting offense next week.

''That is a possibility,'' said Raiders head coach Bill Callahan.
''That's back-to-back games now that he's really given us a spark, a lift off the
bench.''

Oakland's first-team defense also played well, shutting down Terrell
Owens and company, though the 49ers were minus starting quarterback Jeff Garcia.

Barret Robbins, the team's deposed center, played in his first game of
any kind since being suspended for Super Bowl XXXVII by Callahan. Robbins
entered the game midway through the second quarter and played the remainder of the
half before giving way to Matt Stinchcomb the rest of the game.

''Seemingly he fit in,'' said Callahan. ''He made some good calls and I
thought he was back in his natural form in that respect.''